Wildcats needed a 'change in leadership,' said Byrne

Mike Stoops's firing Monday as head coach of the Arizona
Wildcats was the "result of an ongoing evaluation of our program
since my arrival a year and a half ago," wrote UA Athletic Director
Greg Byrne in this week's Wildcat Wednesday newsletter.

"While Coach Stoops did an admirable job and was able to
re-establish Arizona as a football contender, it is a critical time
for our football program, and I feel we need a change in
leadership," Byrne wrote. "Defensive coordinator Tim Kish will
serve as the interim head coach for the remainder of this
season."

Meanwhile, a search will be conducted for Stoops' replacement.
During a press conference Monday, Byrne said he hopes to fill the
position within the next two months.

He noted in the newsletter, "I may send out an occasional note
via Twitter, but other than that the next time you will hear
anything from me about this search is when we introduce our new
coach."

Stoops, 49, will be paid $1.4 million, nearly half of his
contract that ran through 2013.